Engine sludge chamber



Jan 19, 1937- R. SCHNEIDER4 ENGINE SLUDGE CHAMBER Filed April 6, 1953 IIIIII; n

Patented Jan. v19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT IOFFICE;

ENGINE SLUDGE CHAMBER Application April 6, 1933, Serial No. 664,680

16 Claims.

The invention relates to the construction of sludge chambers for combustion engines, the object being to provide an annular unobstructed space around the piston skirt, in which the piston sludge may be caught and diverted to a proper place of disposal outside of the crank space of the enginev or through which the piston will be at all times visible so that the operator can inspect it freely as to its lubrication and temperature. It consists, in one aspect, in organizing the collecting chamber within the extended lower part of the cylinder jacket wall which has advantages of simplicity and economy, and in another aspect, in organizing the chamber so that the-part or member which constitutes the floor thereof is solidly supported in any suitable way and has"a working fit with the piston adapted to support it against the side thrust thereon. In this manner the member referred to forms in zo effect an extension of the cylinder proper and permits the application of inspection and sludge chambers to engines with trunk type pistons within the space limitations to which such engines must conform. The invention further consists in the features of easy assembly and disassembly of the several parts as will presently be made apparent. The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a central section of one of the working cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine, parts not directly related to the invention being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a larger detail in section of the upper wiper rings.

Fig. 4 is a still larger section thereof, taken at a different point in the circumference of lthe rings.

Fig. 5 is a section of the lower wiper ring 40 mounting, and

Fig. 6 a still larger detail thereof. The cylinder liner I of usual design and function is fitted to the interior of the jacket wall 2, so as to form between them a proper space for 45 the circulation of the cooling water, and so as to provide such appropriate intake and exhaust ports as may be required. In the present case the intake ports are indicated at 3 and the exhaust ports at 4. The jacket wall 2 is carried on the crank enclosure 5. The several parts may be constructed and united as desired, but the jacket wall 2 preferably extends below the lower end of the liner I and in this region is formed 55 to provide an annular chamber 6 entirely surrounding the lower end of the liner I, this being the sludge chamber. It is bounded at its top by the water-containing part of the jacket wall 2 and on its lower side is providedvwith a floor or drain channel with an outlet 1 to which a pipe 5 may be connected for disposing of the sludge. Window openings 8 are provided on opposite sides of the chamber' each of sufficient width to afford a view of almost 180 of the piston circumference, so that'by using both windows nearly lo the whole circumference of the piston can be inspected. No structural element intervenes between the windows and the piston to obstruct the view of any part of the latter. Glass plates such as indicated at I0 and supported by window 15 frames 9, may be applied over the window openings if desired, or they may be left open. The piston vis of trunk-type with its connecting rod pivoted therein as indicated in the drawing and its working or wearing surface passes .back and forth through.A the inspection chamber so that the condition of that surface thus becomes visible to the operator. A cool, properly lubricated piston shines whereas a hot piston turns brown, thereby giving indication of the fact that the load 25 thereon should be reduced or its lubrication improved.

The sludge carried downward by the piston is removed therefrom by a wiper wing II or set of rings which is mounted directly on the lower end 30 of the liner I in an annular rebate formed therein and held in place by a retaining ring I2 bolted to the lower edge of the liner by the bolts I3. The set preferably includes an upper contractile ring 26 of plain overlapping type de- 35 signed to obstruct the passage of gas past the piston, and two lower contractile wiper rings II, which latter have preferably the sectional shape indicated in the drawing. Also and preferably the rings Ii are radially channeled at intervals around their circumference as indicated at I4 in Fig. 4'so that thevoily sludge which they scrape off the piston may find an escape radially outward to the space within the rebate of the liner about the outer circumferences of the rings and may thence flow downwards through a notch such as shown at Iii, cut in the upper corner of the ring I2, and from thence pass into the sludge chamber and drain.

Oil carried upward from the crank enclosure by the piston is removed from the piston by a lower set of rings. These rings marked I6, preferably two in number and of the same type as the upper rings, are carried on the upper edge of a guide cylinder I1 fitted to and within the 55 upstanding flange lip I8 of the cylinder jacket and secured thereto by the bolts I9. This guide cylinder l1 has a working fit with the piston and, being firmly secured on the jacket wall, forms a steadying support for the piston below the liner I. The lower wiper rings are held in place upon the guide cylinder l1 by the retaining ring 20 secured by studs 2l thereto, and are provided with radial slots I6 similar to Il in the upper rings with a similar collecting space behind them, from which the oil scraped from the piston by the lower rings may drain back into the crank enclosure through channels marked 22 and 23, or be piped away through drain marked 24. Thus the clean oil removed by the lower wiper rings is kept separated from the sludge or dirty oil removed by the upper wiper rings.

It will now be apparent that in addition to the advantages above indicated of clear visibility of the piston and compact arrangement of the sludge chamber, the construction indicated affords the further advantage that the piston is laterally supported below the sludge chamber, that is to say, by the guide cylinder l'l and that the lower set of wiper rings can be removed by removing this guide cylinder, and when this has been done the upper set of rings and their retainer l2 may be likewise withdrawn through the space within the flange lip I8 of the cylinder jacket; and that provision is made for the salvaging of clean oil, by preventing its contamination by sludge.

Means, such as electric lights 28 for illuminating the interior of the sludge chambers, are preferably fitted within these chambers.

The sludge chambers may, if desired, be interconnected, for example by openings 25 in the party walls, and opened to the atmosphere, to maintain atmospheric pressure within the chambers. The atmospheric connection 21, may be provided with a filter, or similar means for preventing the discharge of oil vapor into the atmosphere.

I claim:

1. In a combustion engine having a cylinder jacket, a liner therein and air admission and exhaust ports, the combination of a downward extension of the jacket member below said liner and ports forming a sludge chamber about the piston, said extension being fenestrated to expose the piston to View through said chamber during its operation, and wiper rings acting on the piston to deilect sludge into said chamber.

2. In a combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder jacket and liner, a lateral support for the piston independent of and vertically spaced from the lower end of the liner, a wiper ring carried on the liner and another Wiper ring carried on said piston support, an engine wall surrounding said rings, the space between said liner and support constituting a sludge and inspection chamber for the piston.

3. In a combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder jacket and liner, the wall forming said jacket being extended downward and formed with a sludge-receiving channel below the' liner and wiper rings -coacting with the piston to divert sludge to said channel.

4. In a multi-cylinder combustion engine, the combination with the water-jacketed cylinders thereof, of a part below each water space forming a sludge chamber for the piston thereof closed from the crank-case, wiper rings at the top and bottom of said chamber acting on said piston, the sludge chambers of adjacent pistons being connected by a passage and thereby in pressure communication with each other.

V5. In a combustion engine, the combination with a water-jacketed cylinder having a trunk 5 piston, of a guide cylinder affording lateral support to the piston, spaced vertically below thei lower end of the cylinder and its water space, the gap between said cylinder and guide cylinder affording an unobstructed inspection space around the piston, means for enclosing said space including a glass window for inspection of the piston while in action, a wiper ring engaging the piston to divert sludge into said inspection space, and a drain for conducting the sludge away from the enclosure.

6. In a combustion engine, the combination of a water-jacketed cylinder including an inner wall and an outer jacket-wall extended below the water-space of the cylinder, a removable piston-guide cylinder mounted on the extended wall and vertically spaced from said inner wall to form an inspection chamber therebetween, a piston-wiping ring located at the lower end of said inner wall, and a retaining ring for said wiping ring having an external diameter not exceeding that of said removable guide cylinder.

7. In a combustion engine, the combination of a water-jacketed cylinder having its jacket wall extending integrally below the cylinder proper 30 and formed with an annular channel or gutter around the piston, and being fenestrated in its extended part to permit inspection of the piston above said channel, and a wiper ring for diverting sludge into said annular channel.

8. In a combustion engine, the combination of the cylinder and trunk piston, a sludge chamber extending about the piston below the cylinder, an upper wiper ring adapted to divert sludge from said piston into the said chamber, means for closing off the sludge chamber from the crank enclosure, said means including a lower ring coacting with said piston, said rings being spaced from each other, and a window through which the piston may be inspected between said rings.

9. In a combustion engine, rthe combination with the combustion cylinder, a trunk piston therein subject to side thrust, a guide cylinder for said piston, said guide cylinder being vertically spaced from said combustion cylinder and solidly mounted on the engine and adapted for supporting the piston against said side thrust and a wall enclosing the space between the aforesaid cylinders to form a chamber 55 about the piston, said wall having a Window through which said piston may be inspected between said cylinders, and said piston having its wear surface disposed to pass through said chamber. 00

10. In a combustion engine, a combustion cylinder, a trunk piston therein subject to side thrust, a guide cylinder for said piston vertically spaced from said combustion cylinder and solidly supported on the engine frame to con- 55 stitute a support for said piston against said side thrust, means enclosing the space between the aforesaid cylinders to form a sludge-collecting chamber about the piston, closed of! from the engine crank-case, a Wiper ring coacting with said piston to collect sludge in said chamber and a window in said enclosing means through which the piston may be inspected in action. u

1l. In a combustion engine, the combination with the combustion cylinder and a trunk pistontherein subject to side-thrust, a guide cylinder for said piston solidly supported on the engine to sustain the piston against said sidethrust and vertically separated by an annular space from said combustion cylinder, means enclosing said space to form a chamber about the piston, a glass window in said means, wiper means for collecting sludge in said chamber, a drain for discharging sludge from said chamber and a vent for vapor in said chamber.

12. In a combustion engine, a combustion cylinder and trunk piston, means vertically spaced from said cylinder forming an annular channel, a guide cylinder removably supported on said channel-forming means, means enclosing the vertical space between said combustion cylinder and channel, a wiper ring for collecting sludge in said channel, a drain from said channel and a window in said enclosing means exposing the piston in action.

13. In a combustion engine, a combustion cylinder and trunk piston therein, an auxiliary cylinder solidly mounted on the engine frame and spaced vertically below said combustion cylinder, means enclosing the space between said two cylinders forming a chamber about the piston closed off from the engine crank-case, a glass window in said enclosing means through which the working surface of said piston is observable in action, an electric lamp inside the chamber to illuminate the piston therein, rings forming a gas-seal between said combustion cylinder and piston to restrain entrance of obscuring vapors into said chamber and a vent allowing the escape from said chamber of any vapors entering the same.

14. In a combustion engine, a combustion cylinder and another cylinder vertically spaced from each other, a piston reciprocating in said cylinders, means enclosing the space between said cylinders forming a chamber about the piston closed off from the crank-case and provided with a glass window through which the wear surface of the piston is observable, said piston having gas-seal rings near its upper end and said combustion cylinder having gas-seal and wiper rings mounted thereon near its lower end, above said chamber, in combination with illuminating means permanently' mounted in said chamber, and a vent from said chamber for any vapors entering the same.

15. In a combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston therein, means including a transparent window forming a closed annular chamber around the lubricated surface of the piston, said chamber being closed ofr" from the crank-case, an electric lamp permanently mounted to shine on the part of the piston' that is exposed to View through said window and said chamber, and vapor outlet means for said chamber.

16. In a combustion engine, a combustion cylinder, a piston therein, means at the lower end of the cylinder forming an annular chamber extending around the piston and closed off from the crank-case, piston-wiping means at the top of said chamber for deflecting oil therefrom into said chamber, piston-wiping means at the bottom of the chamber tending to prevent oil on said piston from entering said chamber and separate oil drain ducts leading from said chamber and said lower wiping means respectively to different points of oil delivery.

RUDOLPH SCHNEIDER. 

